News and press releases

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs. The sixty-first Russian convoy of 15 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point...

At 11:07 on 28 March, an SMM patrol composed of six members and two armoured vehicles approached a compound where the SMM had previously observed armed “DPR” members, at the eastern edge of “DPR”-controlled Kozatske (36km north-east of Mariupol). (See SMM Daily Report 11 February 2017.)...

The SMM recorded on 27 March more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with 26 March. The Mission observed damage caused by recent shelling to houses and civilian infrastructure in Avdiivka, Popasna and Vesela Hora. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited one border area currently not controlled by the Government. The blockade of railway routes across the contact line in Buhas, Hirske and Bakhmut continued. In Kharkiv region the SMM continued monitoring the situation following a fire and a series of explosions at an ammunition storage depot...

ST. PETERSBURG, 28 March 2017 – The Parliamentary Conference on Combating International Terrorism, co-organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, concluded today in St. Petersburg confirming the prominent role that international parliamentary diplomacy and co-operation can play in the fight against terrorism...

Intensifying dialogue and networking between Roma and Sinti civil society, policymakers and political parties is fundamental to successful policies for ensuring the effective participation of Roma and Sinti in their communities, said participants at a workshop hosted by ODIHR on 27 and 28 March 2017 in Brussels.

The important role of procedural safeguards in the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment in police custody and during criminal investigations, as well as a discussion on developing a universal set of standards for non-coercive interview and evidence-gathering methods, were the focus of a workshop held in Vienna on 28 March 2017.

Experts, officials, teachers, students, parents and representatives of the Muslim community gathered in Dublin on 27 March 2017 for the first round of consultations on developing teaching materials to counter intolerance against Muslims based on international human rights and non-discrimination